Son will share father’s World War II experience on a B-17 bomber

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John “Bob” Robert Patrick, a 1939 graduate of New Philadelphia High School, was the crew chief on a B-17 bomber during World War II. The crew was on its way to England to join the war when bad weather and low fuel forced them to land on the arctic ice cap in Greenland.
John “Bob” Robert Patrick, a 1939 graduate of New Philadelphia High School, was the crew chief on a B-17 bomber during World War II. The crew was on its way to England to join the war when bad weather and low fuel forced them to land on the arctic ice cap in Greenland.

DOVER — Steve Patrick of Dover will share the experiences of his father as a crew member of a World War II B-17 bomber. His program "One WWII B-17 Bomber and One Crew Member's Story — 1942 to 2022" will be held at the Dover Public Library at 6:30 p.m. June 27.

John “Bob” Robert Patrick, a 1939 graduate of New Philadelphia High School, was the crew chief on a B-17 bomber during World War II. The crew was on its way to England to join the war when bad weather and low fuel forced them to land on the arctic ice cap in Greenland. The crew was rescued after 10 days, but the plane, which was relatively undamaged in the landing, was left behind. It wasn’t until 1964 that someone spotted the B-17 bomber. In 1995, all parts of the plane were retrieved and moved to Oregon where it was completely restored.

In 2000, a Cincinnati businessman bought the plane with the intention of making it the centerpiece of a World War II memorial. In 2012, the businessman, realizing that he was not going to be able to finish the project, donated the plane to the National Museum of World War II in New Orleans, La. Today, the plane is displayed at one of the museum's pavilions.

“I have done this program several times since moving here in 2008,” said Steve Patrick, “and each time I give it I find new material I never knew about. The details are fascinating.”

Steve Patrick of Dover will share the experiences of his father as a crew member of a World War II B-17 bomber at 6:30 p.m. June 27 at the Dover Public Library.
Steve Patrick of Dover will share the experiences of his father as a crew member of a World War II B-17 bomber at 6:30 p.m. June 27 at the Dover Public Library.

Sherrel Rieger, adult program specialist, said, “It is a remarkable coincidence that Patrick will be sharing images and displaying artifacts exactly 80 years after his father’s historical journey began — June 27, 1942!”

The library is at 525 N. Walnut St., Dover. Register online at www.doverlibrary.org or call the library at 330-343-6123.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Dover man to talk about father's experience on B-17 bomber crew